Cigarette case and the like



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Aprifl 21, 1936, s. LISNER CIGARETTE CASE AND THE LIK Filed Jan. 27, 1934 Patented Apr. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES CIGARETTE CASE AND THE! LIKE Sidney Lisner, New York, N.- Y., assignor to D. Lisner & 00., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 27, 1934, Serial No. 708,661

12 Claims.

My invention in general relates to containers and in particular to containers provided with closures.

In one of its aspects it relates to small, light containers intended to be carried about the person, such as cigarette cases and the like, or powder compacts and vanity cases, although it will be obvious that from other aspects it is not limited to such specific use, but may have many other applications.

The general object of my invention is to provide such a container having closures which may be conveniently manipulated for the purpose of gaining access to the interior thereof. Other objects are the provision of a self-opening cover for such a container, that will open automatically when released, and the provision of a retaining member for the cover of such container whereby it will be held in closed position, and which may be conveniently manipulated to release the cover member, and the provision of such a retaining member that will be in function and appearance a portion of the container itself, rather than an adjunct thereto.

For the attainment of the above enumerated objects and for such other objects as will hereinafter appear or be pointed out, I have illustrated the invention in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2, except that the parts are shown in their open position; I

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the container of Figure 1 and corresponds to a view on line 4-4 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 shows a plan view of another embodiment of my invention;

Figure 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 6-6 of Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 7 is a view partly in section and similar to Figure 6 except that the parts are shown in open position.

My invention, in general, in relation to specific applications thereof, may be described as a container comprising sections capable of angling relatively to each other, and at least one of these sections is provided with a self-opening cover held in place by a retaining member or catch, when the sections are in normal or closed position, but adapted to be released from the action of said retaining member when the sections are angled relatively to each other.

Referring first to one illustrative form of my invention, as disclosed in Figures 1 to 4, inclu- 5 sive, it will be observed that I there show a container having a body portion I0 and a cover member I2, both of which are shown as hollow, so that, when closed, they form between them a space into which cigarettes or other articles 10 may be placed. A spring hinge which may be of the torsion type, is shown connecting the members in pivotal relation at one end and this hinge is designed so as to cause them to open relatively to each other, unless they are held together. At its free end the body member has connected thereto a section I6, shaped so as to conform to the combined contour of the body IE) and the cover I2 and to thereby form in effect and in appearance an extension thereof. This section I6 is pivoted to the body member It] by a spring hinge I8, which normally tends to hold it in alignment with the body and the cover members, when they are in closed position, as shown in Figure 2. The free end of the closure member I2 is provided with an extension or lip 20, which, when it is in closed position is overhung by a portion 22 of the section I6 when the section is aligned with the body II] as shown in Figure 2. By grasping the section I6 with one hand, as indicated in Figure 3, and angling it in'relation to the body I0, as also indicated in said figure, the end 22 of section I6 will move out of the Way so as to release the lip 20, and thereby permit the cover I2 to spring open. In order to control this opening of the cover I2, it is, of course, advisable to use the other hand to engage the cover I2 and body member II'I, so as to press them together and gradually release them and thereby control the rate of opening. 40 While the use of two hands in opening the container is advisable, it is to be observed that if the section I 6 is grasped as indicated in Figure 3, the weight of the body member ID and cover I2 will tend to effect the angling and the opening of the cover. Should the weight of these parts be insufficient, a slight flip of the hand will secure the desired eifect.

It will be further observed that the efiectiveness of operation is due in great measure to the relative location of the hinges as a result of which the angling of the sections effect a lateral withdrawal of the lip 20 in a direction substantially at right angles to the initial upward motion of the cover I2 as it springs open. In this way a free path for the cover is secured, with a minimum motion of the lip 20. To secure the best results, it is therefore clear that the line from hinge I4 to lip should be substantially at right angles to line joining hinge l8 and portion 22. The greater the departure from this relation, the less effective for the intended purpose will the construction be.

It will therefore be observed that by my construction I provide a container which is very convenient to manipulate; so convenient, in fact, that if desired, it can be opened by using only one hand. However, even where two hands are used, I have found that the opening is effected in a far more convenient manner than in any c0nstructions with which I am familiar,

It will further be observed that in Figure 1, I have also indicated in dotted lines a member 24, hinged at one side of the case, by a spring hinge, and adapted to securely hold down articles such as cigarettes or the like which may be placed inside the case.

Another embodiment of my invention is illustrated in Figures 5, 6, and '7. In this construction the two sections and 32 of the body of the container are shown as similar, and each is adapted to serve independently as a container. The sections are united at 34 by a spring hinge tending to align them as shown in Figure 6. Mounted on the spring hinge is a catch member 36, the function of which will be hereinafter de scribed.

At its free end the section 30 carries a cover 46 pivotally joined thereto by a spring hinge 38 which is designed to cause the cover 40 to open, when released. A second cover member 44 is hinged at 42 to the body member 32, the hinge 42 also being of the spring type and causing the cover 44 to open, when released.

Referring again to the catch member 36 it will be noted that this is formed at its top with laterally extending portions adapted to overhang lips 46 and 48, respectively formed on the free ends of cover members 40 and 44, so as tothereby keep said covers from opening, as shown in Figure 6.

When, however, the sections 30 and 32 are sufiiciently angled relatively to each other, as indicated in Figure '7, the lips and 48 are disengaged from the catch 36, and unless the covers 40 and 44 are held in place manually they will fly open as also indicated in Figure 7. It will be obvious that in manipulating this container one hand may be used to grasp one section and cause angling of the two sections merely by the downward pull of the weight of the other section, assisted perhaps by a flip of the hand, thereby causing the cover of the section not held by the hand to fly open, or again both hands may be used, one holding each section and the sections may then be angled relatively to each other and the covers gradually released by relaxing the grip of the hands thereon.

To secure a highly effective action, I have found it desirable to mount the catch member 36 in such relation to the spring hinge 34 and the sections 30 and 32, that when the sections are angled the catch member 36 will be symmetrically positioned intermediate the two sections. This may be accomplished in any manner well known to those skilled in the art, for instance by attaching the catch member to the torsion element of the hinge at a neutral point thereof, which will maintain its position while the two sections of the container twist the ends of the torsion member in opposite directions. With this construction the covers 40 and 44 will be released at the same time. If simultaneous release is not desired, however, it is of course obvious that one cover may be held down with one hand while the other cover is being opened.

As indicated in Figure 6, one section of the container may be used as a powder compact. For this purpose I have indicated at 50, a mirror, mounted inside the cover 40, of section 30, and at 52 a powder sifter, to retain powder placed in the body 39, this sifter being removable, so that the body may be refilled when necessary. The other section 32 may at the same time be used to hold cigarettes. It will, of course be understood that such uses are only by way of suggestion of the many uses to which my invention may be put.

While I have herein shown and described two illustrative forms of my invention it will be understood that it may be embodied in many other forms, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A container comprising two sections pivotally associated in end to end relation by an intermediate resilient hinge member, each section having a resiliently hinged closure member,

adapted automatically to open outwardly when free, and retaining means in pivotal relation to said resilient hinge member and adapted to release said closure members when said sections are angled from said end to end relation.

2. A container having a body portion comprising two upwardly opening hingedly related sections adapted to normally assume an aligned relation to each other and adapted to be angled relatively to each other, resilient means constraining said sections to return to the aligned relation when displaced therefrom, and each section having a closure member adapted to close the opening in said section, and adapted to open automatically when released, and retaining means intermediate said sections, adapted to engage portions of one or both of said closure members so as to retain them in closed position.

3. A container having a body portion comprising two upwardly opening hingedly related sections adapted to normally assume an aligned relation to each other and adapted to be angled relatively to each other, resilient means constraining said sections to return to the aligned relation when displaced therefrom, and each section having a closure member adapted to close the opening in said section, and adapted to open automatically when released, and retaining means intermediate said sections, adapted to engage portions of one or both of said closure members so as to retain them in closed position, said retaining means being pivotally related to said sections.

4. A container having a body portion comprising two upwardly opening sections, a hinge uniting said sections so that they may be aligned or angled relatively to each other, each section having a closure member adapted to close the opening in said section, and adapted to open automatically when released, and retaining means intermediate said sections, adapted to engage portions of one or both said closure members so as to retain them in closed position, said retaining means being pivoted about the hinge uniting said sections.

5. A container having a body portion comprising two upwardly opening sections, a hinge uniting said sections so that they may be aligned or angled relatively to each other, each section having a closure member adapted to close the opening in said section, and adapted to open automatically when released, and retaining means intermediate said sections, adapted to engage portions of one or both said closure members so as to retain them in closed position, said retaining means being pivoted about the hinge uniting said sections, said hinge uniting said sections being resilient so as to cause said sections normally to assume an aligned relation.

6. A container having a body portion comprising two upwardly opening sections a hinge uniting said sections so that they may be aligned or angled relatively to each other, each section having a closure member adapted to close the opening in said section, and adapted to open automatically when released, and retaining means intermediate said sections, adapted to engage portions of one or both said closure members so as to retain them in closedposition, said retaining means being pivoted about the hinge uniting said sections and so as to cause said retaining means at all times to assume a position symmetrical in relation to said sections.

7. In a container, a body member and a cover member complementary thereto, said body member and said cover member being hingedly associated and adapted to form a compartment open at one end when they are superposed, and a locking member hinged to said bottom member and adapted to form an extension of and to close the open end of said compartment, and said locking member having portions opposed to its hinge overlapping portions of the cover member, the hinges of said cover member and locking member being so positioned relatively to each other that the aforesaid overlapping portions will be constrained to move transversely to each other, whereby said locking means will prevent opening of the cover member as long as it is in overlapping relation thereto, and said overlapping portions being free of all obstructions preventing sliding of the said overlapping portions over each other, whereby when said locking member is moved about its hinge said overlapping portions will slide over each other into a disengaged position and the cover member will be free to open.

8. In a container, a body member and a cover member complementary thereto, said body member and said cover member being hingedly associated and adapted to form a compartment open at one end when they are superposed, and a locking member hinged to said bottom member and adapted to form an extension of and to close the open end of said compartment, and said locking member having portions opposed to its hinge overlapping portions of the cover member, the hinges of said cover member and locking member being so positioned relatively to each other that the aforesaid overlapping portions will be constrained to move transversely to each other, whereby said locking means will prevent opening of the cover member as long as it is in overlapping relation thereto, and said overlapping portions being free of all obstructions preventing sliding of the said overlapping portions over each other, whereby when said locking member is moved about its hinge said overlapping portions will slide over each other into a disengaged position and the cover member will be free to open, said cover hinge being adapted to cause said cover to open, and said locking member hinge being adapted to cause said locking member to move inward so as to engage said cover member in overlapping relation and prevent its opening.

9. A container as defined in claim 7, in which the cover hinge is adapted to cause said cover member to open automatically when released.

10. A container as defined in claim '7, in which the locking member hinge is adapted automatically to cause said locking member to assume its locking position.

11. In a container, a body member and a' cover member complementary thereto, and hinged thereto at one end thereof, and a locking member hinged to said bottom member and having portions thereof overlapping portions of the cover member and external thereto, the hinges of said cover member and locking member being so positioned relatively to each other, that the aforesaid overlapping portions will be constrained to move transversely to each other, whereby said locking means will prevent opening of the cover member as long as it is in overlapping relation thereto, and said overlapping portions having surfaces free of all obstructions preventing sliding of the said overlapping portions relatively to each other whereby when said locking member is moved about its hinge said overlapping portions will slide relatively to each other and become disengaged, and the cover member will be released.

12. A container as defined in claim 11, in which the cover hinge is resilient and adapted to cause said cover to open, and in which the locking member hinge is adapted to cause the locking member to move inward so as to engage said cover member in overlapping relation and prevent its opening.

SIDNEY LISNER. 

